A HUNDRED vehicles have been removed from the scrapyard hit by a massive fire last week.

It is hoped 250 more will be moved next week, but some will remain on site until the new year.

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Early last Thursday, First Choice Car Spares on Moorfield Way, Altham, was engulfed by flames with thick black smoke billowing across the M65.

More than 60 firefighters were involved in fighting the flames and damping down the site, containing more than 400 scrap and crushed cars and vans, for more than a day.

Neighbouring homes and businesses were told to keep doors and windows closed because of the fire which police believe was started deliberately.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said the clearance of the site would be ongoing for several weeks.

She said: “The investigation into the cause of the fire at First Choice Car Spares is ongoing.

“The Environment Agency monitoring the removal of the vehicles to ensure there is no pollution risk to people or the environment.

“The operator has removed 100 cars and is aiming to remove 250 more before Christmas.

“Some crushed vehicles require further assessment and removal from site which is planned for January.”

A spokesman for the fire service has said the joint investigation could take several weeks.

Hundreds of schoolchildren were left unable to catch their regular bus to school because coach company Rigby’s Executive Coaches could not access its depot, while two bus companies stepped in to take children to an afternoon pantomime.

The Environment Agency spokeswoman said investigations into the nearby dumping of mountains of waste at the site of the former Huncoat power station were continuing and arrangements made with the landowner to remove the fly-tipping.